Dear Safe to Sleep® Community

We loved seeing state and local news stories about the ways you’ve engaged your communities in safe infant sleep education throughout SIDS Awareness Month. We know those highlights are just a fraction of the safe infant sleep outreach successes you achieved and we want to express our pride in being a part of such a dedicated community.

Although SIDS Awareness Month is over, we know that the need for community education is never-ending, so we are here to support you throughout the year.

Here are 10 timely ideas to keep up the momentum:

Grandparents in town: The holidays are about bringing families together. Many families will be spending time with grandparents and other trusted caregivers during the holidays, be sure to check out and share our Safe Sleep for Your Grandbaby brochure, designed especially for this audience. Also, let your constituents know that our FAQs About SIDS and Safe Infant Sleepwebpage is also a helpful resource for families facing the difficult conversation with elders who care for infants about why the safe infant sleep recommendations have changed and why the recommendations should be followed for all of a baby’s sleep times.

Gift giving: When it comes to the baby’s crib, the most important gift is the baby! Remind parents and other trusted caregivers that crib bumpers, blankets, and pillows should be kept out of the baby’s sleep area and that the safest number of toys in a baby’s crib is ZERO.

Winter Months: As the temperature drops, some parents feel that it’s time to bundle up their babies when putting them to sleep. Use the winter months as an opportunity to remind parents that during cold weather, ONE additional layer of sleep clothing is all a baby needs at sleep time, and that all babies are at an increased risk of SIDS when they get too hot during sleep.

National Minority Health Month: National Minority Health Month, observed in April, is an opportunity to focus efforts on communities with especially high rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), such as African American and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. The campaign offers tailored materials for these audiences.

Infant Immunization Week: Research shows that immunizations reduce the risk of SIDS by 50%. If you already educate families about vaccines, use National Infant Immunization Week in April to help dispel the myth that vaccines can cause SIDS by emphasizing that vaccines can actually reduce the risk of SIDS.

Plan for Back-to-School: Middle and high schools are a great place to educate the next generation. Consider coordinating with family and consumer science or health teachers to relate information about safe infant sleep to their curricula. Reach out in late spring, when teachers are planning for the upcoming school year.

Spring Community Events: As the weather starts to warm up again, communities often host fun events like block parties and festivals. Set up a table with educational materials and a safe sleep environment display (using doll-sized cribs work too!) at these events to spread safe sleep information throughout your community.

Father’s Day: Invite fathers and other male caregivers to play an active role in a baby’s sleep time by teaching them how to help create a safe sleep environment 100% of the time. Dads and other male caregivers can also work with their babies on Tummy Time to build strong muscles and prevent flat spots on the baby’s head.

Train Summer Babysitters: During the summer, many teens turn to babysitting to earn money. These teens may not have much experience caring for infants. Research shows that infants who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed to sleep on their stomachs, such as for a nap, have a 7-8 times greater risk for SIDS than babies who are put to sleep on their backs 100% of the time. Consider partnering with a local organization that trains babysitters to present a safe infant sleep seminar.

National Breastfeeding Month: Babies who are breastfed or fed with breast milk for the first 6 months of life are at lower risk of SIDS. If you already conduct outreach or work with families to promote breastfeeding, August, which is also National Breastfeeding Month, is a great time to include information about the importance of breastfeeding as a SIDS risk-reduction strategy.

Sincerely,
Safe to Sleep® campaign
Public Communications BranchEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health

About Us

Since 1989, Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale has been dedicated to ensuring that all children are raised in a safe, loving, nurturing home free from all forms of abuse and neglect

Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale is a community based, non-profit provider of prevention and intervention services in the community. We are committed to strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect by providing families with the information, support, and resources necessary to be successful in raising children.